Russia Retaliates Over Ukraine Sanctions With Ban on Polish Fruit

Russia's agricultural watchdog is set to impose a ban on imports of Polish fruit and vegetables.

Russia's Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) will halt most imports due to "the violation of certification and the identification of quarantine products," spokesman Alexei Alekseenko said in a statement.

The move is part of a wider-ranging plan to restrict fruit imports from across the European Union, announced in July 28, as the EU mulled tighter economic sanctions on Moscow.

Poland had lobbied the European Union to impose tighter sanctions on Russia, in the wake of the annexation of Crimea and amid the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine.

Along with the United States, the EU announced fresh sanctions against Moscow on Tuesday over Russia's role in the Ukraine conflict.

The sanctions were agreed after Western leaders accused separatist rebels of shooting down a Malaysian passenger airliner with a Russian-supplies missile system.

All 298 people on board Flight MH17 were killed.

Russia has a history of banning food and drink when facing political disputes with other states.

In light of the ongoing battle over Ukraine, Moscow has banned Ukrainian chocolate and dairy products, while its consumer watchdog is set to ban certain McDonald's products including the Filet-o-Fish and Cheeseburger.

Latvian sprats, Georgian wine and Moldovan cognac have fallen foul of Russia's food and drink wars in prior political disputes.